Care home's future is discussed at meeting

The founder of Diverse and Unique Care shut the property in Radmore Road and has been turning away parents of children with disabilities who want to book overnight stays there, because she has been told she is not properly registered

Jackie Millerchip with actress Jennie McAlpine in the garden of the Radmore Road home

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Childcare provider Jackie Millerchip, who has been forced to close her flagship home in Hinckley, has met county council officials to discuss its future.

The founder of Diverse and Unique Care, who was named winner of Lorraine Kelly’s Inspirational Women of the Year awards in 2011, shut the property in Radmore Road and has been turning away parents of children with disabilities who want to book overnight stays there, because she has been told she is not properly registered.

County council chiefs say she must register as a children’s home if she wants to offer a sleep-over service.

For now, her team is offering only basic day care from her organisation’s original property in Sunnyside in the town.

Mrs Millerchip met county council officials last Wednesday, February 19, to discuss the future of the Radmore Road home, which provided respite care for children and young people with a range of serious disabilities and special needs.

After the meeting, she said: “I gave a presentation of all the points I wanted to make.

“At the end of the day, I said if you can help me to move forward, then great.

“I’m not in it for the money.

“The people who are losing out most are the parents of the children who want to stay with me.”

She has been told that a decision will be sent to her in writing.

A county council spokeswoman said: “We had a positive meeting with Jackie and are hopeful that our advice and support will assist her in moving forward.”

Mrs Millerchip spent thousands of pounds refurbishing and adapting the Radmore Road home, which was opened last autumn and featured on ITV’s Lorraine Show, when Coronation Street actress Jennie McAlpine paid a visit.

Since then, many children with disabilities have enjoyed overnight stays there, giving their families precious respite from otherwise round-the-clock care.

A county council spokesman said: “Ofsted has advised us that, under national regulations, a venue must be registered as a children’s home if it is to offer overnight stays and respite care to young people.

“Although we have no safeguarding concerns, it is clear that Diverse and Unique Care does not have the required registration at present, so we are liaising with them on a way forward.”

Founded in 2010, Mrs Millerchip’s service was rated “outstanding” by Ofsted in 2011 and “good” in 2013.